The Derby Accord

Structured work placement opportunities enable students to apply their academic learning in a professional environment. Placements can range from short-term project work to year-long industrial placements and offer organisations access to emerging talent, fresh perspectives and additional resource to support business objectives.

Paid internships allow students and recent graduates to gain valuable industry experience while contributing meaningfully to your organisation. Internships can support specific projects, seasonal peaks in demand or business development initiatives while helping to build your future talent pipeline.

Roles designed for recent graduates, providing entry into professional practice. These positions may form part of structured graduate schemes or direct recruitment into permanent roles.

Graduates bring current knowledge, digital skills, innovative thinking and enthusiasm, helping organisations strengthen their workforce and build capacity for future growth.

Support the development of skilled employees through apprenticeship opportunities that combine academic study with practical workplace experience. 

Apprenticeships enable organisations to address skills gaps, develop existing staff and attract new talent while benefiting from programmes aligned to industry needs.

Provide students with the opportunity to work on genuine business challenges, projects or case studies that reflect real industry needs. This could include problem-solving exercises, research projects, marketing campaigns, operational reviews or innovation challenges. 

Organisations benefit from fresh perspectives and creative thinking, while students gain valuable experience applying their knowledge to real-world scenarios.

Share your career journey, industry knowledge and professional experiences with current students through guest talks, panel discussions or interactive workshops. 

These sessions help students better understand career pathways, workplace expectations and emerging sector trends, while also raising awareness of your organisation and the opportunities available within your industry.

Meet and engage with students and graduates who are exploring future career opportunities. By attending careers fairs, networking events and employer showcases, organisations can promote their brand, highlight recruitment opportunities and build relationships with potential future employees. 

These events provide an effective platform for attracting talent and increasing organisational visibility.

Help shape the future workforce by contributing employer insight to course design, curriculum reviews and advisory boards. 

Your knowledge of current industry practices, skills requirements and emerging trends helps ensure academic programmes remain relevant, responsive and aligned to employer needs, ultimately supporting the development of work-ready graduates.

Support innovation and creativity by sponsoring, contributing to or participating in challenge-based learning activities. These events encourage students to work collaboratively to tackle complex issues, generate new ideas and develop practical solutions.

Employers have the opportunity to engage with talented students, identify emerging skills and contribute to tackling real-world challenges.

Open your doors to students through workplace visits, behind-the-scenes tours and industry insight days. These experiences help students gain a deeper understanding of your organisation, sector and working environment, while providing valuable exposure to different career pathways. 

Site visits also strengthen connections between employers, students and the University, helping to inspire future talent.